The fungus emerges from a buried pea sized mass known as a sclerotium. In the case of the specimens in the photographs, numerous off white sclerotia were visible at the soil surface many months before the fungus emerged, although at the time I had no idea what they were. This species is easily recognised under the microscope by the presence of gill face cystidia with finger like projections. Note that some of the specimens shown are far more robust than usual.

Additional Photographs

The slender forms to the right are more typical of the species. 19 October 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin